Ameren’s mission is to power the quality of life for our customers, our co-workers and our communities. That’s why we’ve long supported and worked side-by-side with a variety of groups that make our communities better.
One of our primary community engagement programs is the AmerenCares Corporate Contribution program. We connect Ameren co-workers with their local communities through volunteerism and fundraising campaigns. We also support nonprofits across a spectrum of sectors, including health and human services, education, environment, and community and economic development. Through all of Ameren's philanthropic investments, our primary goal is to empower people, progress, and prosperity in the communities we serve.
Ameren also has established a formal method for community engagement that allows two-way communication between Ameren and community leaders. “Community Voices” is an annual engagement established in 2019. The program brings together a variety of community stakeholders to discuss education, job development and energy cost savings. These discussions helped us better understand how we can partner to meet needs in our communities.
The Ameren Corporate Charitable Trust, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois provide philanthropic support to nonprofit organizations including social service agencies, educational institutions, and civic and cultural organizations. From cradle to seniors, Ameren's charitable contributions primarily impact the broad classification of health and human services, followed by K-12 and post-secondary education, economic and community development, and civic and public affairs. Other categories of focus include culture and the arts, and environment.
During 2020, we provided $2 million directly to nonprofits for Covid-19 pandemic disaster relief and recovery, including to unique initiatives like the Community Carryout Fund, where donations are provided to small restaurants so that they may boost their bottom line and in turn create meals that are subsequently provided to nonprofits for hunger security relief. In addition, Ameren co-workers and company board of director members came together to raise over $800,000 for pandemic relief.
Orthodox Jews celebrate Shabbat, a day of rest, from Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown. Community members refrain from any kind of work and are prohibited from performing certain tasks in public, such as pushing a stroller or taking a meal to a family member. Working with Ameren Illinois, the Champaign-Urbana Orthodox community established an eruv, an area enclosed by a wire boundary along Ameren power lines that then becomes a shared space for Jewish people. That area is now considered a symbolic extension of the home and not a public space. As a result, celebrants are permitted to partake in some activities during Shabbat, while still adhering to their religious beliefs.
Learn more about how Ameren supports our communities in our Community Engagement section.